PS 2823 
j.SA 
Copy 1 




First the Cross and then the Crown 



Meditations 

and 
Devotions 




on the 

Sufferings 

of tlie 
Lord Jesus 



BOSTON: GEO. F. CROOK, PUBLISHER, 30 MUSIC HALL 

1886 



\-. 



NH ■■'\\ 



Copyright iS8b 



PxtiatL 



npHESE Meditations and Devotions have been gatliered from many 
sources, some ancient and some modern. Tlieir purpose is to bring 
vividly before us some of the events in the hfe of the Man of Sorrows, and 
to turn holy thoughts about Him into fervent prayers to Him. 

Perhaps this little book, O Christian, may help you to realize how 
great was the burden He carried for you, and how He calls you to imitate 
His patience and gentleness in your daily life. 

Its pages may have on them words fitly chosen for your hours of private 

devotion at home, or for penitential seasons, or when you are preparing 

for Holy Communion, or to fill up those intervals in God's House when 

you would be free from worldly thoughts. 

G. W. SHINN. 



E\)t dFcUotosljip of atj)ri^t's Stiffciings. 

T/ia^ I may know Him, . . . and the fellowship of His sufferings. 

Philippians iii. lo. 

JESUS, whom angel hosts adore, In love the whole dark path He trod, 

Became a man of grief for me; To consecrate a way for me, 

In love, though rich, becoming poor, Each bitter footstep marked with blood, 

That I through Him enriched might be. From Bethlehem to Calvary. 

^ . 
C\ BLESSED LORD, who didst leave Thy glory to come to earth in 
lowliness and sorrow that I might be redeemed and exalted, I 
give Thee welcome in my heart. Deepen in me the sense of my sinfulness 
and of Thy great mercy. 

Make Thy sufferings so real to my conscience, and enable me so to 
apply them to my sins that I may never forget the debt of love I owe Thee. 
Lord, I am not what I ought to be, not even what I wish to be, but I 
pray Thee, make me more and more what Thou wouldst have me to be. 



# lotolg 13atc, of liTlrgin IBotijcr torn. 

Thou shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people 
from 'their sins. 

St. Matthew i. 21. 

OWATHED and feebly wailing, Poor and meek and lowly, 
Wherefore art Thou laid. From My Throne above. 

All Thy glory veiling All the path of trial 
In the manger's shade.' Willingly I trod, 

Sinner, — thus I sought Thee, Pain and self-denial, 
Moved by pitying love. Bringing thee to Gou. 

T ORD JESUS, help to me enter into the meaning and to realize the 
grace of Thy Incarnation. Reveal to me more and more the 
precious mystery of Thy love. Fill me with a sense of Thy mercy in thus 
humbling Thyself to be born of a Virgin. 

Grant that I may never forget Thee, never dishonor Thee and never 
forsake Thee, but may I follow Thee, however rough the pathway, until 
I come to Thine everlasting Kingdom. 



IlillllfS"! 



illW^^^^^^^^^^ 






\I,\M 



il 



I^efugc from Cvucltg in tijc ?lantr of Badmcss. 

Take the young Child and his mother^ and flee into Egypt, and be 

thou there until I bring thee word : for Herod will 

seek the yoitng Child to destroy Him. 

St. Matthew ii. 13. 

P^GYPT, the land of graves, becomes a cradle. The dark, cold bosom 
throbs tenderly towards the Child whose life Herod sought. Egypt 
was all unconscious of the trust, but more important than the story of the 
career of her kings is the story of her custodianship of the infant Christ. 
There, amid all her decay and all her darkness, was the Light of the world. 

tJLESSED LORD, against whom so early in Thine earthly life perse- 
cution began, help me in all my times of trial. When the wicked 
assail me be Thou my Refuge, when the evil one would pursue me even 
unto death be Thou my Life ; and when I go down to the darkness of the 
grave, lighten the way, O Thou who art the Light of the world. 



iPn ti)c temple aijout l^ls jFatijcr's tuslncss. 

Wist ye not that I must be about My Fathers business ? 

St. Luke ii. 49. 

JOSEPH and Mary felt for the great priests and religious teachers pro- 
found reverence, and yet they find the Boy calm and interested in so 
august a presence. They might indeed have known that He was wiser 
than His teachers and transcendently more great, but hitherto they had 
known Him only as the sweet, obedient Child, and perhaps the contact 
of daily life had blunted their sense of His awful origin. 

His answer, so memorable as furnishing us with the first recorded 
words of the Lord Jesus, is divinely natural and sublimely noble, and in 
accordance with all His after life — for He had come to do the will of the 
Father and finish His work. 

r\ LORD JESUS CHRIST, — who didst sit lowly in the midst of the 
Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions, — grant to 
me a fervent desire to know the will of God and grace to do it. 



Cemptcti in tt)e lonelg SSEUtrctnessi. 

And He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan. 

^ St. Mark i. 13. 

npHIS is one of the deepest of mysteries. The father of evil draws near 
to essential goodness, in the hope of corrupting it. The struggle is 
between the two representatives of good and evil. 

Thrice was Jesus assailed and thrice was the tempter foiled. 

In each of the three ruling powers of man's nature He was tried, 
showing how completely and in all things, sin excepted, He was made like 
unto His brethren. 

C\ JESUS, my Lord, arm me with that trust in God which will fortify me 
against every assault from without and every craving from within ; 
help me to discern between a holy sacrifice of self to Thy will and the pre- 
sumption of thrusting myself where Thou hast not called me ; and make 
me more willing to be despised for loyal abnegation of self-interest for 
Thy glory than to enjoy the applause of those who speak well of the pros- 
perous. 



i^e toxx our griefs antr catrictr our sorrotos. 

Come unto Me all ye that lador and are heavy laden and 1 7V ill give von rest. 

St. Matthew xi. 28. 

A LL ye who seek a comfort sure Opens to you His sacred Heart, 

In trouble and distress, Oh, to that Heart draw nigh! 

Whatever sorrow vex the mind Ye hear how kindly He invites, 

Or guilt the soul oppress. Ye hear His words so blest: 

Jesus, who gave Himself for you " All ye that labor, come to Me, 

Upon the Cross to die And I will give you rest. '' 

r\ MERCIFUL LORD JESUS, Thou art the Refuge of the poor, the 
Hope of the lowly, and the Salvation of the miserable. 

When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man Thou didst come to 
bear all of man's burdens. 

I am grieved and wearied with the burden of my sins. I come to Thee 
for rest. I cast my loa^ of care upon Thee for Thou carest for me. 

The world cannot give me peace, where shall I find it, O Thou great 
Consoler, if I find it not in Thee ? * 



St. Luke xxii. 



Jtedas, betray est thoie the Son of Man with a kiss? 

npHE actual sin of Judas does not admit of repetition. Only once was 
it within the power of unutterable baseness to betray an unutterable 
Friendship ; and to-day even covetousness itself, if it could become incar- 
nate, could not palpably make merchandize of the Son of Man. Yet in 
more subtle forms is the betrayal of the Saviour of every day occurrence. 
It requires no overt treason, no active sacrilege, no malicious opposition. 
The Master may be betrayed afresh by omission as well as by com- 
mission, the folded arm may betray as surely as the kiss and the open 
hand. Luxury and sloth are as effectual bribes as thirty pieces of silver, 
and of such bribes whose hands are clean? 

* - 
r\ THOU, who wast content to be betrayed and delivered up into the 

hands of sinful men, make me ever true to Thee. Unless Thou wilt 

take and keep my heart, it is capable of betraying Thee. 



E\)t S'OU 0t Oiotr toas ittoittremnctr. 

He delivered Jesus to their will. 

St. Luke xxii. ic.. 

DECAUSE the Son of God had made choice to die on the Altar of the 
Cross, the judge was constrained to command, and they to execute, 
the sentence. 

The Jews accused Him through malice ; Pilate condemned Him 
through fear ; but Jesus died through love. 

C\ GOOD JESUS, Thy humility consented to this condemnation. Thy 
heart embraced it. My necessities required it. Mine is the guilt. 
Thine the suffering. Life of my life, why dost Thou not close my life 
with Thine, seeing that Thy life doth end for mine? 

How tender Thou art to Thine enemies in the day of Thy mercy 
Lord Jesus, I would be Thy friend, and so I deliver myself to Thee. O 
mighty Judge, condemn me not for my past sins, but be pitiful. 



And when tliey had platted a ei'own of thorns^ they put it upon His head. 

-_. St. Matthew xxvii. 29. 

CiNCE He was willing thus to wreathe His head with thorns, all things 
are hallowed by His most precious Blood. 

Ye cruel thorns, in mocking wreath My loving Lord torment no more; 

entwined, Wound, rather wound this heart of 
My Saviour's brow in agony to bind, mine. 

Oh, cease to rend the Flesh divine! The guilty cause of all He bore. 

Why didst Thou suffer this Crown to gird Thy temples, O Lord Jesus ! 

How grievous must have been this wreath bound on Thee by cruel 
hands in Pilate's Hall, but far more grievous is that crown of my sins and 
iniquities which I have given Thee. 

C\ MY REDEEMER, thus crowned, transfix this stony heart of mine 
that I wound Thee not in the house of Thy friends as Thou wast 
wounded once in the house of Thy foes. 



And He bearing His Ci'oss went forth. 



St. John xix. 17. 



TV/IUST JESUS bear the Cross alone, The consecrated cross I'll bear 

And all the world go free? Till death shall set me free, 

No! there's a cross for every one. And then go home my crown to wear, 

And there's a cross- for me. For there's a crown for me. 

C\ GOOD JESUS, Thou dost tell me to take up my cross and follow 
Thee ; but there is no such agony for me as there was for Thee. 
What then is my cross, and how can I walk in Thy steps? 

If it be to own Thee as my Lord, in the face of the world, Lord, I 
am Thy disciple. 

If it be to become meek and lowly in heart, Lord, take away my pride. 

If it be to deny myself for others, keep before me Thine example. 

If it be to suffer pain and sorrow. Lord Jesus, I submit ; show me Thy 
foosteps and lead Thou me on. 



T)T Tiaiii p-yrtTil irrrnrrrrrrnr. "^ "Tttt j^-R'- fi Trrrmr ^ttf —riHri"^ 

"^ ^Txiii opon T3ir Q-a^ xinr price : Sirrm ieh: "ws nrrr parilaii -yon;: 

St Tttt pxfmnil ^PfRFltHnrm. 3:^ xiie ss^sn -wDr3~ TIjiri.t spaisEsi. 



O 



iSiee lihHi Tr>rm iriii iEr£ mnis jntr on zie iSihsi Xtrr xarnisirESS Iran. 

O TwasM yjghi!! IS^misd id i±e 'Cn:^ mar^ii. torirrrei- S^srneS'! inS 
WThiat CSS I renSsr Id Thee O TaDn jmfii? SsriDfiir? 



i^c 3Bictr. 

And Jesus cried witli a loud voice and gave up the gJwst. 

St. Mark xv. 37. 

"HAT death can be likened unto that of the Son of God? It came 
unto Him in the embrace of His Cross, with the pardon of His 
enemies prayed for, with pity on His Hps, with tears for sinners on Sis 
cheek, and Redemption accomphshed ! 

r\ SWEET JESUS, what couldst Thou do more for me? Weeping and 
crying as a little Babe Thou earnest into this world in the stable of 
Bethlehem ; now, with tears and strong cryings, on the Cross Thou dost 
depart. 

Thy work is done, the battle is over, the world is ransomed, pardon is 
gained, and sin is atoned for. 

O be near me when my last hour comes, and give me a place in Thy 
Kingdom. 




26 



I^c toas iJ^uvictr. 

And \_Joseph'\ laid It in his own new tomb. 

St. Matthew xxvii. 60. 

V^/'ITH the spices of Thine affections do thou anoint Him, O my 
soul, and with thy tears wash Him; and, behold! as thou washest 
His sacred wounds thine own sins will be cleansed. 

i~\ MY LORD, did it not content Thee to be born without a house, 
^^^ and to live without wealth, and to die without a bed ; but must 
Thou lie in, another man's grave! 

O how happy should I be if Thou wouldst bury Thyself in this soul 
of mine, that, as Thou didst rise the third day never after to die again, 
so I might with Thee be raised to newness of life. 

His Sorrows are ended. 



f 



I^e Erosc from tijc 3Bcat). 

IV/i}' seek ye (he living among the dead? 

St. Luke xxiv. ^. 

OAINTS! your cross in patience bearing, Christ is Risen! lose your sadness, 

Mourners! stained with many a tear. Joying with the joyous throng. 

Penitents! in sorrow wearing, Faithful hearts will find their gladness 

Darkest weeds of shame and fear. Joining in the Easter Song. 

Christ is Risen! Alleluia. 
He who has walked sorrowfully with Christ in His sorrows shall rise 
joyfully with Christ in His joys. 

DLESSED LORD JESUS, Thou art the mighty Victor over death and 
the grave ! 

Thy human griefs, Thy bitter pains, Thy unfathomable agonies, all 
ended with the Cross. Thy Death hath abolished death, and Thy Rising 
hath opened unto me the gates of the Life everlasting. 

O make me to know the power of Thy Resurrection, that dying unto 
sin I may serve Thee in newness of life to Thine honor and glory. 



|ff" I ^'^'^^^i^'W^^^IP 




?^e Hsccntis into l^caijcn. 

And it came to pass while He blessed them He was parted from them and 
carried up into Heaven. 

_ St. Luke XXIV. 51. 

' I ^HE mystery of His Ascension fills the imagination with the picture of 
what His majesty must have been. It lielps us to found an expec- 
tation of that glory which is yet to be revealed. 

The lower clouds shut out the radiance that shines forth from Him, 
but they do not dim that radiance. He is clad in sublime majesty. He 
is the enthroned King of Heaven. 

C\ THOU most mighty King, art Thou afar off from me when I think 
now of Thy glory? My heart has gone out to Thee as the Man of 
Sorrows, but Tliou sufferest no more. Thou art exalted high above all 
dominions. Heaven is Thy throne. The earth is Thy footstool. Canst 
Thou regard one so unworthy as am I? Blessed be Thy name Thou art 
the same yesterday, to-day, and forever ! Draw me to Thee by Thy 
glory as Thou drawest me by Thy sorrows. 




titO, ^. t<i5i4'(,^ t*>i?,W 'J'iWkAt'J.^ U\S^\t V,KVV^ <HS5AftA 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 




015 971 986 8 



-S&'^w 



